System and Related Methods for Signalling Movement Phases in an Exercise Routine

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides a programmable system configured to, through various combinations of optical and audio signals, automatically implement a timed exercise routine according to specifications input by a user. Concentric and eccentric movement phases are signalled, allowing the movements to be executed correctly at the optimal velocity, and allowing fitness professionals the freedom to focus on other aspects of a fitness class.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for improving exercise routines. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system configured to signal movement phases to users during an exercise routine.

BACKGROUND

The importance of keeping fit has been emphasized ever more heavily in recent years, with the gym and exercise class industry growing exponentially. Exercise classes often consist of multiple sets of weightlifting training, where each set comprises a number of repetitions involving concentric movements and eccentric movements, with rest periods between each set. An issue with this is that it is difficult for the person exercising to keep track of the number of repetitions they have completed and to time their movements correctly.

Fitness professionals who lead such exercises classes are usually responsible for controlling the timing of these various phases, with multiple clients to manage simultaneously. This necessity often prevents them from being able to devote their full attention to the form and technique of the participants of the class.

Another issue is that trainers have limited means of signaling the different phases of movement to the clients, relying mostly on voice commands. This prevents them from fully communicating how long each movement should last, and it is a known issue that the eccentric phase movements are often neglected, hindering optimal muscle hypertrophy.

It is within this context that the present invention is provided.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a programmable system configured to, through various combinations of optical and audio signals, automatically implement a timed exercise routine according to specifications input by a user. Concentric and eccentric movement phases are signalled, allowing the movements to be executed correctly at the optimal velocity, and allowing fitness professionals the freedom to focus on other aspects of a fitness class.

Thus, according to one aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a system for synchronising exercise movements, the system comprising: a user interface; a controller in communication with the user interface, the controller being configured to receive exercise data inputs for a routine from the user interface, the exercise data inputs including at least: a number of sets, a number of repetitions for each set, a concentric movement time period for each set, and an eccentric movement period for each set.

The system further comprises one or more visual or audio devices in communication with the controller; and the controller is further being configured to generate a set of timed signals based on the exercise data inputs and to output the set of timed signals to coordinate the one or more visual or audio devices to signal concentric movement periods and eccentric movement periods for each repetition of each set of a routine in accordance with the received exercise data inputs.

In some embodiments, the one or more visual or audio devices comprise one or more visual displays, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the one or more visual displays to show a first animation or video for each concentric movement period and a second animation or video for each eccentric movement period.

In such embodiments, the first animation may comprise a set of up arrows and the second animation comprises a set of down arrows.

In some embodiments, the one or more visual or audio devices comprise one or more lighting devices, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the one or more lighting devices to light up with a first colour for each concentric movement period and to light up with a second colour for each eccentric movement period.

In some embodiments, the one or more visual or audio devices comprise one or more speakers, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the one or more speakers to output a first sound effect for each concentric movement period and to output a second sound effect for each eccentric movement period.

In some embodiments, if the number of sets entered is greater than 1, the user interface prompts the user to input a number of repetitions for each one of the different sets, a concentric movement time period for each one of the different sets, and an eccentric movement period for each one of the different sets.

In some embodiments, the exercise data inputs further comprise a rest period input, and wherein the controller is configured to incorporate the rest period into the set of timed signals between each set.

Furthermore, in such embodiments, the one or more visual or audio devices may comprise one or more visual displays, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the one or more visual displays to show a rest period animation during each rest period.

The one or more visual or audio devices may also comprise one or more lighting devices, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the one or more lighting devices to light up with a specific colour during each rest period.

The one or more visual or audio devices may also comprise one or more speakers, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the one or more speakers to output a specific sound effect during each rest period.

In some embodiments, the system further comprises a database, and wherein the controller is further configured to save entered sets of exercise data inputs as pre-built custom exercise routines having the associated set of timed signals generated by the controller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of an example configuration of the disclosed system being implemented in an exercise environment such as a gym, with a user being instructed to carry out a concentric movement.

FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the example configuration of the disclosed system being implemented in an exercise environment such as a gym, with a user being instructed to carry out an eccentric movement.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an example set of components forming the disclosed system.

Common reference numerals are used throughout the figures and the detailed description to indicate like elements. One skilled in the art will readily recognize that the above figures are examples and that other architectures, modes of operation, orders of operation, and elements/functions can be provided and implemented without departing from the characteristics and features of the invention, as set forth in the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments to illustrate the principles of the invention. The embodiments are provided to illustrate aspects of the invention, but the invention is not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalent; it is limited only by the claims.

Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily obscured.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The present disclosure provides a programmable system that allows a user to enter various parameters for defining a timed exercise routine with one or more sets and one or more repetitions consisting of concentric phase movement periods and eccentric phase movement periods, and with rest periods in between the sets.

The inputs are received by a controller which then operates or communicates with one or more devices to output an audio or visual signal for each change in movement phase. The system uses various combinations of light, sound and video animation cues to guide these exercise phases and work/rest periods, usually in a group fitness environment.

The system provides many advantages, particularly in group fitness environments such as weightlifting classes. It enables weightlifters to correctly execute phases of movement in the routine with correct velocity. This is especially true for the eccentric movement phase which is often neglected or executed too fast.

The automated nature of the signals in the generated routine also allows users to focus entirely on their from and technique instead of having to concentrate on counting repetitions.

It is also highly beneficial for fitness professionals implementing the exercise classes, they can generate custom routines, program them into the system, and then during the actual routine they can focus on motivation and correcting posture and form, rather than organising the class and trying to control their clients' movement execution velocity and count.

Referring to FIG. 1 , an example configuration of the disclosed system 100 is shown being implemented in an exercise environment such as a gym, with a user 200 being instructed to carry out a concentric movement on an exercise machine 300.

As can be seen, the system 100 comprises a user interface 102 which in the present example is a touchscreen interface. The user interface 102 allows a user such as a fitness class instructor to input a number of parameters to program a timed exercise routine. These inputs include but are not limited to: a number of sets, a number of repetitions for each set, a concentric movement time period for each set, and an eccentric movement period for each set. They may also include a rest time period in between each set. The time periods may be in units of seconds.

The number of reps and time periods for concentric and eccentric movements may be changed for different sets, for example if a routine involves multiple different types of exercise or simply includes variations in the lifting times for the same exercise.

A user may also control the routine via the interface 102, such as for example causing the routine to start and pause or stop and controlling various other parameters as will be explained below.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the interface 102 is connected to a controller 104 which receives the inputs and generates a timed routine based on them. The controller is in communication with a number of visual and/or audio devices 106 which are spread about the space in which the exercise is being performed, and during the implementation of a routine the controller 104 causes the visual/audio devices 106 to output signals for each concentric movement phase, eccentric movement phase, and rest period, with the timing of the signals corresponding to the exercise data inputs used to generate the timed routine.

A typical example workout may involve 8 different exercises with 4 sets of identical time components in each (so 24 sets total to program in) and 12 reps per set, with a rest time between sets of 60 seconds and with 90 seconds between each different exercise. In one set the concentric phase of movement may be set to 1.4 seconds for each repetition, the eccentric phase of movement may be set to 2 seconds. Of course these value will vary from workout to workout.

The controller 104 may be a dedicated hardware device or another kind of user device having software installed which configures it to carry out the operations of the disclosed system.

The audio/visual devices can include but are not limited to the following.

A display 108 such as one or more large monitors for showing different video animations and graphics to signal movement and rest phases. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , an up arrow animation may signal the concentric phases and a down arrow animation may signal the eccentric phases. The rest phases may have no animation or may have a rest phase animation such as an image of a resting person.

A speaker system 110 for outputting different sound effects to signal movement and rest phases. For example, a rising sound may be used to signal concentric phases, a falling sound may be used to signal eccentric phases, and a period of silence may signal the rest phases.

A lighting system 112 which emits different colours, intensities, or patterns of light to signal movement and rest phases. For example, green light may be used to signal the concentric phase, and red light to signal the eccentric phase. Violet light may then be used to signal the resting period between sets of exercise.

Naturally, combinations of such audio/visual devices may be used in order to ensure that a user can easily comprehend each signal without concentration and to suit users of different sensory preferences or impairments.

While the examples of the present disclosure utilise a touchscreen device as the interface 102 and have it in communication with a local controller, it should be understood that the operations described herein may be carried out by any processor. In particular, the operations may be carried out by, but are not limited to, one or more computing environments used to implement the method such as a data center, a cloud computing environment, a dedicated hosting environment, and/or one or more other computing environments in which one or more assets used by the method re implemented; one or more computing systems or computing entities used to implement the method; one or more virtual assets used to implement the method; one or more supervisory or control systems, such as hypervisors, or other monitoring and management systems, used to monitor and control assets and/or components; one or more communications channels for sending and receiving data used to implement the method; one or more access control systems for limiting access to various components, such as firewalls and gateways; one or more traffic and/or routing systems used to direct, control, and/or buffer, data traffic to components, such as routers and switches; one or more communications endpoint proxy systems used to buffer, process, and/or direct data traffic, such as load balancers or buffers; one or more secure communication protocols and/or endpoints used to encrypt/decrypt data, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocols, used to implement the method; one or more databases used to store data; one or more internal or external services used to implement the method; one or more backend systems, such as backend servers or other hardware used to process data and implement the method; one or more software systems used to implement the method; and/or any other assets/components in which the method is deployed, implemented, accessed, and run, e.g., operated, as discussed herein, and/or as known in the art at the time of filing, and/or as developed after the time of filing.

As used herein, the terms “computing system”, “computing device”, and “computing entity”, include, but are not limited to, a virtual asset; a server computing system; a workstation; a desktop computing system; a mobile computing system, including, but not limited to, smart phones, portable devices, and/or devices worn or carried by a user; a database system or storage cluster; a switching system; a router; any hardware system; any communications system; any form of proxy system; a gateway system; a firewall system; a load balancing system; or any device, subsystem, or mechanism that includes components that can execute all, or part, of any one of the processes and/or operations as described herein.

As used herein, the terms computing system and computing entity, can denote, but are not limited to, systems made up of multiple: virtual assets; server computing systems; workstations; desktop computing systems; mobile computing systems; database systems or storage clusters; switching systems; routers; hardware systems; communications systems; proxy systems; gateway systems; firewall systems; load balancing systems; or any devices that can be used to perform the processes and/or operations as described herein.

As used herein, the term “computing environment” includes, but is not limited to, a logical or physical grouping of connected or networked computing systems and/or virtual assets using the same infrastructure and systems such as, but not limited to, hardware systems, software systems, and networking/communications systems. Typically, computing environments are either known environments, e.g., “trusted” environments, or unknown, e.g., “untrusted” environments. Typically, trusted computing environments are those where the assets, infrastructure, communication and networking systems, and security systems associated with the computing systems and/or virtual assets making up the trusted computing environment, are either under the control of, or known to, a party.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, as would be apparent from the above discussion, it is appreciated that throughout the above description, discussions utilizing terms such as, but not limited to, “activating”, “accessing”, “adding”, “applying”, “analyzing”, “associating”, “calculating”, “capturing”, “classifying”, “comparing”, “creating”, “defining”, “detecting”, “determining”, “eliminating”, “extracting”, “forwarding”, “generating”, “identifying”, “implementing”, “obtaining”, “processing”, “providing”, “receiving”, “sending”, “storing”, “transferring”, “transforming”, “transmitting”, “using”, etc., refer to the action and process of a computing system or similar electronic device that manipulates and operates on data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computing system memories, resisters, caches or other information storage, transmission or display devices.

Those of skill in the art will readily recognize that the algorithms and operations presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computing system, computer architecture, computer or industry standard, or any other specific apparatus. Various general purpose systems may also be used with programs in accordance with the teaching herein, or it may prove more convenient/efficient to construct more specialized apparatuses to perform the required operations described herein. The required structure for a variety of these systems will be apparent to those of skill in the art, along with equivalent variations. In addition, the present invention is not described with reference to any particular programming language and it is appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the present invention as described herein, and any references to a specific language or languages are provided for illustrative purposes only and for enablement of the contemplated best mode of the invention at the time of filing.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The disclosed embodiments are illustrative, not restrictive. While specific configurations of the system for implementing a timed exercise routine have been described in a specific manner referring to the illustrated embodiments, it is understood that the present invention can be applied to a wide variety of solutions which fit within the scope and spirit of the claims. There are many alternative ways of implementing the invention.

It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for synchronising exercise movements, the system comprising: a user interface; a controller in communication with the user interface, the controller being configured to receive exercise data inputs for a routine from the user interface, the exercise data inputs including at least: a number of sets, a number of repetitions for each set, a concentric movement time period for each set, and an eccentric movement period for each set; the system further comprising one or more visual or audio devices in communication with the controller; and the controller further being configured to generate a set of timed signals based on the exercise data inputs and to output the set of timed signals to coordinate the one or more visual or audio devices to signal concentric movement periods and eccentric movement periods for each repetition of each set of a routine in accordance with the received exercise data inputs.
 2. A system for synchronising exercise movements according to claim 1, wherein the one or more visual or audio devices comprise one or more visual displays, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the one or more visual displays to show a first animation or video for each concentric movement period and a second animation or video for each eccentric movement period.
 3. A system for synchronising exercise movements according to claim 2, wherein the first animation comprises a set of up arrows and the second animation comprises a set of down arrows.
 4. A system for synchronising exercise movements according to claim 1, wherein the one or more visual or audio devices comprise one or more lighting devices, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the one or more lighting devices to light up with a first colour for each concentric movement period and to light up with a second colour for each eccentric movement period.
 5. A system for synchronising exercise movements according to claim 1, wherein the one or more visual or audio devices comprise one or more speakers, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the one or more speakers to output a first sound effect for each concentric movement period and to output a second sound effect for each eccentric movement period.
 6. A system for synchronising exercise movements according to claim 1, wherein, if the number of sets entered is greater than 1, the user interface prompts the user to input a number of repetitions for each one of the different sets, a concentric movement time period for each one of the different sets, and an eccentric movement period for each one of the different sets.
 7. A system for synchronising exercise movements according to claim 1, wherein the exercise data inputs further comprise a rest period input, and wherein the controller is configured to incorporate the rest period into the set of timed signals between each set.
 8. A system for synchronising exercise movements according to claim 7, wherein the one or more visual or audio devices comprise one or more visual displays, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the one or more visual displays to show a rest period animation during each rest period.
 9. A system for synchronising exercise movements according to claim 7, wherein the one or more visual or audio devices comprise one or more lighting devices, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the one or more lighting devices to light up with a specific colour during each rest period.
 10. A system for synchronising exercise movements according to claim 7, wherein the one or more visual or audio devices comprise one or more speakers, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the one or more speakers to output a specific sound effect during each rest period.
 11. A system for synchronising exercise movements according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a database, and wherein the controller is further configured to save entered sets of exercise data inputs as pre-built custom exercise routines having the associated set of timed signals generated by the controller. 